Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
ततः समभवद्युद्धं देवानां दानवैः सह । गणैश्च विकृताकारैर्मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ devānāṃ dānavaiḥ saha | gaṇaiśca vikṛtākārairmṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
Alors s’éleva la bataille entre les dieux et les dānavas, ainsi qu’avec des troupes de gaṇas aux formes terribles et difformes ; là, reculer, c’était s’offrir à la mort.
Sūta (implied continuation of narration)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A vast battlefield where devas clash with asuras; Śiva’s gaṇas—grotesque, awe-inspiring attendants—surge forward, and the atmosphere suggests that retreat is fatal.
FAQs
When dharma and adharma clash, neutrality and retreat are depicted as spiritually perilous; one must stand with righteousness despite fear.
The narrative is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra glorification, though this verse itself is battle-focused.
None.